The Beatles were 'The worst musicians in the world', apparently! The shock is... I get it! 

I'm an ex session player .... I'm " technically" better than all my heroes. But I didn't innovate or write any hit records ...Ego is a hell of a thing.

Have you all watched "Get Back"? Paul comes in, tired. Sits down. Starts faffing on the bass. 10 mins later, a riff is starting to appear. Then he suddenly sings, "Get back!". George and Ringo join in. George joins in on guitar. Ringo starts drumming. John comes in and he joins in. All the parts start to come together (right now). A few days later, "Get Back" is recorded and it's #1 in UK for 17 weeks. #1 in 15 countries. Quincy Jones can bugger off.

I met Quincy Jones on a flight into Washington, DC. We were both sitting in the front of the plane and as we landed and were disembarking he dropped an old leather portfolio full of music sheets. The paper was strewn all over the floor on the plane. I felt sorry for him and stopped to pick up the sheets to help him. Instead of being grateful he screamed at the top of his lungs at me yelling “DON’T TOUCH THAT!” I looked at him and shrugged my shoulders as if to say “Have fun picking up your paper pal!” And walked off the plane. Needless to say, I came away from the experience thinking he was a royal jerk! It doesn’t surprise me that a guy like him couldn’t keep his rude opinions to himself!!

I was working from home on Monday, decided to have a Beatles day, played back to back records for eight hours straight. It was an absolute joy from beginning to end, that's what music should be.

The craziest part of this video is finding out Buddy Rich said Glen Campbell was a poor musician. The man was a member of The Wrecking Crew & universally acclaimed by fellow guitarists.

Glenn Campbell was a monster player

With all due respect to Q, he's about the last producer I'd ever want working on a rock and roll record.

My goodness, I can’t imagine my musical world, or popular music in general, without The Beatles, I certainly can’t say the same about Quincy!

I remember reading an interview of Paul McCartney a few years back. Paraphrasing the gist of it... he was playing Guitar Hero with his granddaughter and she was smoking him. In typical 10 year old girl style, she picked up the nuances of the game fast and was teasing her grandpa that she was better. At which point it looked at her and said, "Yeah, well I wrote all these songs." Game Over. So basically Quincy has the maturity of a 10 year old girl.

I work in a music store, and there's a joke we tell: "The difference between a jazz musician and a rock musician? A rock musician plays 3 chords to 3,000 people, while a jazz musician plays 3,000 chords to an audience of 3 people. :-))

I appreciate how fair and non judgemental you are. So refreshing and nice.

This was such a kind and reasoned response. I am not the best singer in the world, I am definitely not the best guitarist or pianist. I write songs, accompanying myself on either guitar or piano. So...am I musician or not? Maybe I am the worst musician as well? Good grief! There are ballet dancers, ballroom dancers, modern dancers, dancers of various countries. Are they not ALL dancers? There is an aspect in music I do not appreciate- hyper criticism! As a piano teacher, isn't my goal to give them the skills to play for their whole lives at whatever level they achieve, playing the music they love? So what, if when they are 80 and still playing Chopin someone hears them and says, "They are heavy on the pedal!" Good grief! They are over 80 and still playing! Grrrr.....

Quincy Jones saying that is the jazziest quote I ever heard. I even met many jazzmen in my musical journey who pretended to be able to write an entire Beatles album in one night. They never composed one interesting song to this day.

"Worst musicians in the world." That is ridiculously stupid to say.

Creating a great melody and harmony that is interesting, original, and conveys emotion is much more challenging than a technical showcase. If you can do both, that's even more impressive, but many of the "shredders" seem incapable of the former.

McCartney himself in an old Beatles interview from the sixties admitted they were not great musicians but they described themselves as just adequate. When asked why he thinks the fans love their music, he replied I guess they love adequate music.

It's completely different styles of music. You don't expect a Rock & Roll musician to excel at Jazz, just like you don't expect a Country singer to excel at Opera. They all require different skills.

There are thousands and thousands of “virtuosos” out there who can play every song they’ve ever heard note-for-note perfectly, but who couldn’t have CREATED those songs themselves.

I remember Steve Vai said something like this: You can be a good player, but creating music is another different muscle. Even Al dimeola made a CD Tribute to the Beatles... He is a fan... We are not worthy

You’ve all heard of The Wrecking Crew? An LA group of studio musicians that played on everything from the Monkees to the Mamas and the Papas, to the Beach Boys, to the Byrds, and literally hundreds of other top ten artists in the 60s. Now, compare them to the Beatles… The songs are just as danceable, the grooves are just as cool, but the approach in the studio is totally different. The Beatles would go in to the studio and arrange the songs while they were being written; sometimes George or John or Paul would bring in a home demo recording to give the rest an idea of what they were looking for. They had been used to working together for years, and had done hundreds of hours together playing live club gigs in Germany and England. Often especially in the early days, the songs would be recorded and mixed the same day, or maybe recorded on Saturday and mixed on Sunday sort of thing. Now, the Wrecking Crew session guys, they would get called in as needed, so it wouldn’t always be the same group of four people, indeed the size of the group would vary depending on who was writing, recording, producing, etc. Sometimes the songwriters would come in with a “lead sheet” or “chord chart”, which might have the lyrics, the chords, the bars (measures) and the melody written down; maybe even a signature line here and there such as an intro melody or arrangement idea. But the session players would, sometimes very quickly, listen carefully to the song, talk with the producer or writer to get their ‘intent’ as to what they were looking for, they’d maybe run the song down once or twice and then start rolling tape. They would be shooting for getting a solid ‘bed track’ or ‘rhythm track’ with the basic instruments: bass, rhythm guitars, drums, keys; and then for them, the track would be done. Later the singers, and maybe orchestral strings or woodwinds, might be brought in, sometimes right away, sometimes next week; they would do their ‘overdubs’, and then the track would be ready for mixing, which would likely be on yet another day, maybe even at a different studio, that had a better sounding room for mixes or more choices of outboard gear like compressors, limiters, equalizers, reverb plates or chambers, etc. So you’ve got different types of players with different sets of skills for each of these approaches to recording. Could the Beatles, as individual players, have been able to handle the pressures of playing ‘tracks to order’ with the Wrecking Crew, or the Muscle Shoals guys? Maybe for a song or two, but overall I doubt it. Paul maybe, but the thing is, the studio guys all had to be pretty good sight readers (with a couple of exceptions), whereas none of The Beatles could read musical notation at all. And could the Session Player guys make it in the studio cutting tracks with the likes of The Beatles? Probably. A good example of this would be Billy Preston when he first comes on the scene in the Get Back film; he sets up pretty quietly and low key, doesn’t say much at first, just finds his piano parts and fits in. Later on, he’s loosened up quite a bit, is kidding around, laughing, ‘one of the guys’. John even says he should just ‘join the group’… Anyway, for what all that is worth, that's how I see the difference between these two different types of musicians that coexisted back in the day; guys that were in the group, VS guys that were studio players. Similar, but also very different sets of skills at play for each, albeit with a lot of 'crossover'...

One of the things that slowed the Beatles down in the studio is that they were often being highly experimental, trying stuff no one had ever done before. That's a different kettle of fish than playing rhythm guitar in a style that you've been practicing every day for the last 20 years.

My goodness. What an asinine thing to say for Quincy Jones. I've learned a few of their songs on guitar & piano...& have been a fan since childhood. There are so many tricky, unique, & beautiful instrumental parts to their songs -- not just their top notch singing & harmonizing. Everything from Blackbird, Here comes the Sun, I Feel Fine, Michelle, Penny Lane, Norwegian Wood, Eleanor Rigby, Something, etc. Amazing chord changes, hooks, short solos.

Fil - you have a natural ability to explain things that can be complicated - in an easy to understand manner. You are so good at engaging your viewers. I really enjoyed this - Thank You.

Exceptional video, well done mate! I have to say that the nuances between being a instrumentalist and a singer songwriter are totally different, and something that most fans and musicians don't really appreciate. it is also the difference between communicating and showing off. Absolutely love this video and will quote it in a response video, I will do this week on my tiny channel. Great job on explaining all of this in a fair, concise and clear way.

Seems like a silly, attention seeking, argument from Quincy. It's akin to criticizing the world's best author for being a mediocre typist.

Members of Beatles were good enough to play their songs,which were among the best songs ever made...

I think a true artist isn't always someone with extreme technical ability. But someone who works extremely well within their own limitations, who works with what they've got. Someone whose creativity overcompensates for whatever it is they are lacking. If they've got a cheap guitar that's missing a string and they can't afford a new string, they have to find another note to make it work. The blues and soul food both come from that perseverance and creativity. Great job Fil! I always admire your patience and diplomacy and your great knowledge of music. Don't ever lose that, man.

John Lennon freely admitted that he didn't consider himself a real great musician he was a musician but he was mostly a singer songwriter

Oddly enough, Eddie van Halen wanted to learn from Glen Campbell and asked Alice Cooper (who was Campbell's friend) who made it happen and he had a lesson with Glen.

Actually I think being able to write songs at the level the Beatles did, and then performing at the level they did, singing and playing, is on another level!

Terrific video Fil. You make a wonderful case and explanation for this quote. Very well thought out and presented. Thanks!

it's exhausting when people rank virtuosity over expression.

The Beatles were four self contained guys with the perfect chemistry People will still be talking about them hundreds of years from now

Very well put. This channel has been such a refreshing find for me. Your perspectives and technical knowledge is something that I, a 65 year old live engineer from the 80s, can understand and relate to. People get sidetracked by technical abilities. Most bands do not rise to success based upon one musician’s individual talent. Typically it’s a collaboration of their talents. In the Beatles, we see they’re a mix of all things good. I think every technically oriented musician can take any Beatles song and technically do it better. That said, it’s the human element that makes a song something we want to listen too. Thats why live vocals are often more appreciated than canned autotuned vocals.

Their creativity not only changed music forever, it changed culture.

Quincy Jones also said that Hendrix sucked and that George Johnson of the Brothers Johnson was far superior. Quincy has always been an arrogant asshole. I'll never forgive him for dragging a sick and near the end of his life Miles Davis out to do a concert that did nothing for his legacy except tack on a sad ending and allow Quincy to bask in Miles aura. I have no respect for him.

One could argue that if the Beatles had been virtuosos on their instruments, the songs would not have been so good or memorable

A musician buddy of mine said something profound back when we were in a band together in college. I remember it to this day and the realization has shaped both of our lives. "Great players are a dime a dozen, great songwriters are the precious commodity."

Ego battles in all forms tend to be endless, as ego is insatiable. Enjoy what you enjoy and forget the rest. Nicely presented video!

At the time he said this quote, Quincy had a documentary to promote. One of the easiest ways to get attention from the press is to say something negative about someone who is more famous than you are. Also, I once heard Paul McCartney in an interview asked about his guitar playing. He basically said he wasn't a professional guitar player (I'm pretty sure he considers himself a pro bass player though). He said he could play the songs he writes on guitar but that he was not up to the level of session players on the guitar. I think these guys had somewhat realistic understandings of their instrumental abilities. I also recall John saying that he was no Eric Clapton but that he could communicate with his guitar which is what music is anyway.

In 100 years the Beatles will still be heard - will Quincy?

I can't even think of a single Quincy Jones song.

In one of the Miles interview, John, when asked about their instrumental ability, said they were "average, just average," but that Paul was one of the "most innovative bass players ever."

Paul McCartney was always a great bassist. As far as composing rock music, Lennon and McCartney are pure gold. Their interesting chord changes were way ahead of the American rockers in the 1960's.

Excellent presentation, Fil. A few other points: Quincy Jones made this statement about the Beatles and Paul McCartney in particular: “They were no-playing motherfuckers. Paul [McCartney] was the worst bass player I ever heard.” I understand that Jones and his ilk are accustomed to a certain type of studio atmosphere. However, the Beatles pioneered melodies and their attendant sounds with very primitive equipment, even for that era. Several sources state that the studio equipment used in the places where they recorded was woefully archaic compared to what was then being used in the US. Yet they set the world on fire with their artistry and creativity with the tools at hand; neither Jones nor Buddy Rich ever came close to the renown enjoyed by those to whom they showed disdain. To make statements such as this about fellow artists is undignified, but what do I know.

Fil, your videos are really, really good! This one was fascinating. You have opened my eyes in so many ways. Thank you.

The problem with studio musicians and music is that it's not as an involvement as a group, there rarely is that SPARK, that sense of something that needs to come out emotionally. The result is often "boring sort of semi perfect", and there is nearly never that "necessary fire" that makes some groups so exciting.

Firstly, "musician" is a word that is clearly defined differently by different people and in different contexts. Secondly, I would ask *why* he would say that - what was his motivation? At best, it reflects a lack of character and discretion. At worst, a pettiness and lack of humility. The entire world didn't embrace The Beatles because they were "the worst" of anything. Their music will be around for a long, long time. Yeah, "reality check" was a very tactful way to describe it.

They never claimed to be the best musicians but they were definitely the best song writers. Many technical musicians are a little jealous of successful bands. You nailed the explanation brother!

The Beatles were f***ing geniuses.

McCartney stated himself in an interview with the rest of the band there, "We're not very good musicians." That wasn't him being humble. They all knew what session musicians were capable of. They hired session guys for added instrumentation at all points of their career. That wasn't even important to them. There's a reason why so many music teachers *start* kids off with Beatles songs. That's not an insult. I'm a musician too. Their stuff is not hard to master. But who can *write* better music than The Beatles? 💜

Are you telling me Quincy Jones never had a hard time getting something down, I call bullsh*t bigtime bullsh*t.

I was 12 years old in '64 and my first hearing of "Love me do" would forever change how I thought about music . Gee this is different to all the "Bobby" songs, ie Vee,Rydell,Vinton. And so the revolution began. Sorry but you are wrong Quincy. My opinion only.

The thing about session musicians is, unless they write/create their own music, they are just conduits for the genius that is music. So, if it weren't for Lennon/McCartney et aL, session players would just be strumming open strings.

A former teacher of mine, who was once a member of Stings live band and a well known session muso, were having a friendship ending arguement about what makes a musician 'great'. We had very different ideas. For him, it was to be able to look at a piece of music, pick up an instrument and play it perfectly and in the pocket first time. I thought that was absolute balls and I said so. There was a good reason that a million people bought Dylan records, and nobody had ever heard of his pretentious ass. Music is about feel and soul, not dots and numbers on a page. I want to hear blood on the tracks, not the hours spent mastering chord changes. He asked what I would do if the bass player asked me to lay down a rhythym in 7/8, at 88bpm, starting in B Aeolian before going to into G# Phrygian at the bridge. I told him that I would kick him out of the band. That's when he told me that I had no business calling myself a musician because I couldn't do what he and his tedious robot friends could. I haven't spoken to him since, and I'm happy about that. For him, music wasn't art, it was craft. His guitar was his hammer, and he would bash out whatever he was told to, without a single thought for the joy of playing it.

Quincy Jones talks a lot of 💩 on people. That’s one of the things he’ll be remembered for. Bitter.

The combined artistic might of the Beatles dwarfs Quincy Jones, Quincy Jones is a great musician, but he's a small cog compared with what the Beatles achieved. The Beatles changed the musical landscape, along with Sir George Martin's help, they became the greatest group in history - looking at their back catalogue is mind boggling !!

I always said the Beatles were musicians and not guitarist. The guitar was only one of the many instruments they played. That’s what made and makes them different. 👌

Excellent. That really helps my overall understanding of session musicians etc thanks 👍

I was and am way worse than any of the Beatles and can prove it.

Most people have never heard the names of the best musicians in the world. It's so silly to try and compare snd contrast and denigrate other writers, singers and musicians.

Hmm. Well, I noticed the other week that the intro theme for The Italian Job (original 1969 version), "On Days Like These", is clearly pinched from the opening instrumental phrases of "And I Love Her"! That was Quincy Jones.

It's great to appreciate music with you, Fil. TY and I love this video. The Beatles are full of joy in so many ways, and that is magical. I respect Quincy Jones's opinion, but to be honest, get stuffed!

I would not give Quincy a pass. They were great musicians and it’s not about being a studio musician. Being tasteful and melodic is just as important in being a great musician than just technical skills. I am sure many of the musicians Quincy used could never do what the Beatles did. Jimmy Paige was considered a very good studio musician and great player but he wasn’t always technically perfect in Zeppelin. Saying that the Beatles especially Paul is one of the worst musicians is just ignorance from Quincy.

On Dec. 9, 1980 concerning John Lennon, George Martin was asked, "What sort of musician was he?" George answered, "Well, by the standards of great musicians, he wasn't a great musican, but he was a great man. "

I’m reminded of my favourite line from “Bad News” by Comic Strip Presents. Ade Edmondsons character braggingly states “Jimmy Paige didn’t write Stairway to heaven until he was 25……..I could play it when I was 18!” You can all the skill in the world, but have no creativity or vise versa. Having the blend of both is the sweet spot.

"I HEARD", or read some where, , but I think I heard in some interview where it took six months in the studio for the Beach Boys to "perfect" their song "Good Vibrations." Of course, by this time they were so well to do, that they had their own studio, so they could afford to take six months I assume. You are quite correct on this issue of studio cost. Just in studio time, it cost me $10,000 bucks for our second CD album in Vienna, Austria, and our first was donated by a generous studio owner in Wolfsburg, Germany this was in the early 1990s, after that time we were picked up by a cheap label who also donated free time signing a percentage of the music to them. But since that time, I could never afford it again. My very first song recorded in a studio cost $1,500 bucks for one song, and only allowed to play rhythm guitar in the song so the owner played every instrument in the song so we were done in three hours. Later on, I was paid $50.00 an hour as a hired gun for an L.A studio on the bass, rhythm guitar, lead guitar fill-ins, and once in a while an already written easy melodic guitar lead, or saxophone shot. So I was given a four-track dummy tape of the song to take home, and learn the song in one night, and expected to already know it in the studio. But I knew of some musicians getting $500 bucks an hour. And very few would do live drums. So a big thankyou for modern digital technology where home studios are cheap. And I can spend "six months" on a song LOL.

Great video, Fil! I really admire your positive attitude and passion. I always learn something new when watching your videos. Greetings from Sydney, Australia.

I think most of us do not have professional ears. I listen to what pleases me. The Beatles sound pleases me. The expression is more important than the search for "perfection", whatever that is. Billie Holliday did not have the greatest voice, but who else could sing "Strange Fruit" as powerfully as she? The search for technical perfection contradicts what music represents to many of us who are not professional musicians.

Fil, you did a great job of diplomatically analyzing Quincy Jones' comment. I wouldn't be as kind to Mr. Jones. Yes, he's used to working with virtuoso session players. I know a lot of them, along with classically trained musicians . . . none of which have .001% the talent of The Beatles. Those Fabs were pure geniuses. They were the very best at what they did. In addition to being the best, greatest band that ever existed . . . They wrote, recorded, and co-produced the greatest songs ever . . . and possible ever will be. They focused on the song . . . the feel . . . the vibe . . . melody and harmony and rhythm. They strived for originality . . . pushing the bar up, up, up. They were legendary vocalists as well. Instrument wise, Lennon was a gutsy rhythm player. Harrison wrote and played timeless riffs. Ringo was the king of feel and created unforgettable beats. McCartney could do it all, and I'd go as far as to say Sir Paul could be a virtuoso on any instrument if he focused on it. Quincy Jones was clearly jealous, IMO.

Plenty of top class session drummers have all said that Ringo had the most amazing feel of any drummer period. There are drummers who would struggle to cover Get Back or Day In The Life. As Paul would say.”F***Off Quincy it’s The Beatles!

A 100 years from now, they will still revere the Beatles. NOBODY will remember who Quincy was....😂😂😂😅😅😅

The beatles use way more bluesy/jazzy chords than the plain music we mostly hear in today’s charts. As a beginner guitarist, it’s pretty hard.

Quincy is a complete ass for making such a comment. Nobody ever worked harder at their craft than the Beatles and nobody did more to popularize pop music than they did. Quincy doesn’t have much humility and it shows.

Thank you for so accurately putting this into perspective. The truth is that Quincy and Ringo were at the top of their game. Even if it's one of the Beatles, you can't say he was one of the worst musicians. He was NOT as session player, but the majority of people, not just his fans, will say that Ringo is an extraordinarily gifted drummer...No less gifted than Quincy.

I played a gig at Quincy Jones’ house back in the 70’s. I can only imagine what he really thought of us.

If we haven't got creativity we tend to technicality

The Beatles were entertainers who learnt their craft playing live in front of the most demanding of club goers in Germany. Song writing is a craft that many instrumentalists are not capable of doing.

I remember when Quincy made that silly comment. A lot of people get really bitter, brittle, and crusty when they get quite old. Not everyone, thankfully! Regarding Glenn Campbell, there is a video of him somewhere on RU-vid playing a stunning guitar solo during an instrumental. Also, so true about all the kids playing all the really fast, sweep-picking, two-hand tapping scampering up and down the neck stuff. There are a few out there whom are already famous for that- and that's enough! Now it seems there are thousands of kids having a guitar speed contest on RU-vid! It's impressive for ten seconds or so, but then it's all the same. I wish there were more young guitarists picking up on the type of innovations that very few people (like Jeff Beck), were pioneering.

Phil @ Wings of Pegasus - Thank you for that very insightful peek into the musical perspectives and experience of Quincy and Ringo. If we only had sensitive interpreters for all of our flawed, human interactions, we would learn to be more understanding and empathetic. Bless you.

Ringo has nothing to be embarrassed about. He did all right for himself.

Well discussed. "we're just 4 guys who did really well" - John Lennon. The Beatles wouldn't disagree with Quincy per say. They weren't really session artists (sans My Bonnie with Tony Sheridan). And yet they did their first album in one day. And it still holds up and had several #1 hits. When they did their own song, they perfected it. Covering a Beatles song is very hard because you are competing with a perfectly produced version of the song. If you riff on any part its a risk of marring perfection. They were great natural musicians

300 years from now when someone is playing yesterday, they'll say Quincy who?

"The Beatles were not a band, they were a miracle"

First, Paul is a world class bass player who plays complex basslines that are often contrapuntal melodies and does so, live, while singing. Not exactly a bum. Second, John’s rhythm guitar is often very innovative, unique, and, yes, difficult, all of which he often did live while singing. Dig up Quincy Jones and have him play This Boy while singing live, and we’ll see who the terrible musician is. Third, George, while not a pyrotechnical wonder, composed wonderfully melodic and perfect solos that he could play live while singing. Maybe not awful. In fact, the whole point about The Beatles is that everything they did as individuals was meant to serve the song, not their egos. Which they did to perfection over and over again. Terrible musicians can’t do that. Now, as to Ringo. I’ve read The Abbey Road Recording Sessions from cover-to-cover and have no memory of him taking hours to lay down ANY drum track, not even when, during the sessions for the White Album, he was being dragged from studio-to-studio. Yes, the drum track for Helter Skelter was recorded by a no talent. Nonsense! Further, Mark Lewisohn states in that book-for which he listened to every scrap of recorded material by the group, track-by-track, overdub by overdub-that you can count the number of times a take breaks down, over the course of seven years, because of Ringo on the fingers of both hands. And a lot of those tracks are very complicated and are in all manner of time signatures and tempos. Not the work of a terrible drummer. Finally, it would have been difficult for any drummer to come in and play the track in a way that would have fooled Ringo into thinking he had played it because Ringo is a lefthanded drummer who plays a righthanded kit. He leads with his left hand, which is not what would be natural to most drummers. At best, Quincy was hallucinating when he related this anecdote. More likely, he wasn’t “telling it like it is,” but, rather, telling it like it wasn’t.

Quincy Jones shot zero on many. After years of claiming that Elvis was racist (absolute nonsense), I'm not surprised. Envy is really terrible. I like the Beatles although they are not my favourites. I have never found them very nice or friendly but nobody can deny they had a big role in music's history.

I can name 100 Beatles songs and not one Quincy Jones song.

Always enjoy your videos Fil.

If Jones wasn't a musician, what he said would have just been dopey. But he's an accomplished musician and to insult the Beatles with such unprofessional disrespect reveals deep things about Jones' head and heart. His foolishness makes me cringe.

I like your analysis. It reminds me of a story that Leon Russell (a former member of the so-called "Wrecking Crew") used to tell. He asked George Harrison to play a guitar solo on one of his albums ("Wedding Album"). Leon was satisfied with the first take. George was not. So George recorded take after take (anyone of which would suffice for Leon). Eventually, Leon mentioned that there was one take that he really liked and suggested they listen to it again. Leon chose the first take (any would have done). He played it back to George and George agreed that it was the right take - job done! 🙂

You make amazing points here!!

Thanks for your videos! I found your channel when I was revisiting John Bonhams drumming on "Good Times Bad Times". The opening drumming makes my hair go on end, so I keep going back to it. I just watched your video about "Everlasting Love" by The Love Affair and now I am hooked. Looking forward to this video because The Beatles are my favourite childhood band. I was born in 1969. Thanks again!

Look at McCartney's bass playing though, he is a master of that instrument and his lines were incredible. A band is about playing your part to create a sound greater than each individual by themselves.

The Beatles proved that making memorable, marketable music that could be appreciated by the masses did not necessarily require instrumental virtuosity. They themselves said they were mediocre musicians. But so what? They created one of the greatest bodies of work ever. I’ve noticed it’s usually top notch musicians who care about The Beatles’ technical abilities. For the rest of us mortals it was the sum of the parts that resulted in such great MUSIC! Where are all the amazing songs and albums created by all these critics??? Well?

How can people who created the best music in a century be referred to as bad musicians?

I read Quincy’s autobiography years ago. To his credit he did expect a lot of musicality from studio musicians, not just playing the score, and they contributed creatively to the final project, and he did name them. His comment about the Beatles was out of line, I agree.

Quincy Jones was famously not a very good musician himself. And he was accustomed, as a producer, of dealing with studio pros, not rock bands. I consider McCartney an excellent musician and composer, and the rest of the Beatles were definitely okay musicians. Even go back and listen to their early stuff--it takes major energy.

This was the quote from Quincy: “I remember once we were in the studio with George Martin, and Ringo had taken three hours for a four-bar thing he was trying to fix on a song,” the producer recalled. “He couldn’t get it. We said, ‘Mate, why don’t you get some lager and lime, some shepherd’s pie, and take an hour-and-a-half and relax a little bit,' “So he did, and we called Ronnie Verrell, a jazz drummer. Ronnie came in for 15 minutes and tore it up. Ringo comes back and says, ‘George, can you play it back for me one more time?’ So George did, and Ringo says, ‘That didn’t sound so bad.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, motherf*cker, because it ain’t you.’ “ Let’s break that down: This session was from Ringo’s Sentimental Journey album, which was a collection of standards recorded entirely with studio musicians. Ringo only sang, he didn’t perform. George Martin was the producer. Quincy did the arrangement for “Love is a Many Splendored Thing” and no other songs. - Why would Ringo drum on this one song and nothing else on the entire album? - There is no way George Martin would “allow” Ringo to be treated in such a manner. - I’m sorry, but there is no way Ringo or any competent musician would not know his own drumming. - That’s pretty damn patronizing…go get a shepherds pie and a lager and lime at the pub? Okay, Yank…cool story. What we do know is that the track was recorded in LA and Ringo overdubbed his vocals. They were unhappy with that and so Quincy went to Abbey Road to record another version, to which Ringo added vocals. Strings and other instruments were added later. It sounds like QJ simply couldn’t settle on anything he liked and has fabricated this story to embarrass Ringo.

Great video!

I don’t recall Quincy Jones having a producers credit on any Beatles album.